HIV/AIDS in DR Congo - Protecting and Caring for Vulnerable Children

For the vast majority of children of the Democratic Republic of Congo life is tough - a daily scramble to survive. For its orphans, who make up over ten percent of the country's sixty million population, it can be even tougher. An innovative project, first initiated in 2003 by UNICEF and Caritas, has sought to provide practical ways to help them. Now reaching an estimated 110,000 children in 22 sites across the country, the project works through community volunteers, who identify the vulnerable children in their neighborhood.

UNICEF and Caritas negotiate with the children's schools and in return for giving them places, the project provides support to the school including desks, exercise books and other educational materials. A similar negotiation also happens with the health clinics to ensure the children can access these services when sick. Financial grants are given to caregivers to help them cover household expenses. While for the older children aged between 14- 18 years old, skill training is available to equip them with the ability to earn a living. The skill training is done through professional schools, with the cost of the classes being paid by the project.

The combination of financial and emotional support has helped to reduce stigma for children, especially if a parents death is rumored to be caused by AIDS and give them a chance to grow up healthy, safe and educated.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• DRC
• HIV
• AIDS
• UNICEF
• Congo